Seeding machine



Sept. 1o, 1935. B .P JOHNSON f 2,014,334

SEEDING MACHINE I Filed Dec. 19, 1952 4 sheetssheet 1 Sept. l0, 1935. B. P.. JOHNSON SEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1952 K1 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept 10, 1935 B. P. JOHNSON 2,014,334

SEEDING MACHINE Filed Deo. 19, 1951?, 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Spt. 10, 1935T B P, JHNSQN n 2,014,334 f SEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l uw l ZGGLIHHIWII' Il u mi' "iilml Awm f l l l u Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED is SEEDING MACHINE I"Ben P. Johnson, Springeld, Ohio, assignor to 11- Edward E. Greiner, Springfield, Ohio ApplicationDecember 19, 1932, Serial No. 648,007

21 Claims.

`This invention is a novel improvement in deep-furrow. seeding machines, Vtheinachine in the 4present application being lan improvement upon lthat disclosed in my copending applica- .:5 tion Serial No. 59.1,407,.ledFebruary 6, 1932, now .Pate-nt No. 1,901,298` dated March 14, 1933.

,The `.principal object of ythe invention is to providea seeding machine of 'simple construction, the same v.having no supporting frame, a

tubular seedvhopper of sufficient strength being utilized todrectly .support thel rear wheels, forecarriage, .furrow openers, distributors, driving devices, and all parts of the machine secured by brackets to .the hopper. :Through the eliminal5. tion ofA the supporting frame the amount of material and weightof machine is reduced materially, resulting-in-reduction of the cost of manufacture, also saving in freight charges; and by reducingthe cubic dimensions of the machine a `material saving in ocean freight is effected.

.Other minor objects ofthe invention Will be hereinafter set-forth.

I will explain the inventionvwith reference to the-accompanying drawings which illustrate several practical embodiments-thereof to enable othersfamiliar with the -art'to adopt and use the same; -andfwill .summarize-in the claims thenovel featuresof construction, and novel combinations of.. parts, for which: protection is desired.

VIn said drawings:-

V`lig..1.is a-side elevation of one form of seeding machine, .showing the fore-carriage in longitudinal section.

Fig..2 isa-.front end elevation thereof, partly 35 broken away.

fF;g.-3 isa side'elevationsimilar .to Fig. 1 of a modified form of seeding machine.

Fig-4 isa-frontA end .elevation of the machine shown in TFig. v3, partlyy brokenaway.

Fig. -5 -is ,a diagrammaticplan viewV of an assembly of Vfour of `the machines shown in Figs. 3 and-4,:showing the angularity of the hoppers .relative .to the direction of pull.

`.Fig.,6 is an enlarged horizontalsection through the tubular seed hopperfor the grain drill showing the false-bottompartly broken away.

Fig. "lisi-a'section on the.line.1-1, Fig. 6. Fig. :8 is an enlargedvertical longitudinal section through the seed hopper for the combined lgrain and fertilizer drill.

Fig. 9 is an end view of the hopper vshown in Figf.

Fig. 10 is anienlargedftransverse section, showingthe framev carrying the grain distributors and 5 |false. bottom .of Fig. .'raised to clear the distributors from the `hopper' openings to permit removal'of the frame from the opening in-'the endof the hopper.

Fig. k11 isa longitudinal section vthrough one end ofthehopper showing-the partsin Fig.10 ,5, in normalA position. 4

Fig. 12 is a section similar to.Fig.-i10showing the combined grain Vand `fertilizer .distributors in the frame, the parts being elevated forremoval from the hopper. 11),.;

Fig. 13 vis -a longitudinalsection similar' to..Fig. 11 modified to show the combined grain-.and fertilizer distributors .and the partition.

The seeding. machine ,shown'in Figs. L2 .com-

prises .a tubular hopper l, preferably a .spiral 1gb Welded steel tube, of such diameterandlengthas to possess sufficient rigidity to supportthevarious `parts of the machine bracketed thereto as VVhereinafterdescribed. Hopper l isprovided with two Vfilling openings having arcuate covers 20 ic, idVadapted to slide in circumferentially disposed guides le to uncover the openings. By using two relatively short openings I retain the strength of the hopper.

The rear ground Wheels jpreferably of .the 25 closed .type mulch wheel disclosedin my copending applcationSeriaLNo. 591,408 led;Feb ruary 8, 1932, now RatentNo. 1,901,299, dated Marchiili, 1933, consist of pairs ofopposed wheels 2 having flat bearing surfaces 2b with .circum- 30 ferentialoifset shoulders Zaontheir outer edges, the .shoulders and .bearing .surfaces being A perforated to permit dirt picked up by the outer edges of shoulders 2a to be deposited through the perforatons .as a loose mulch as the wheels 35 rotate. The Wheels being fully described inmy aforesaid Patent No. 1,901,299need noffurther detailed description herein.

The pairs of opposed wheels 2 are mounted'on axles 2c journaled in pairs of struts 2d, 2e brack- 40 eted to hopper l, the outside struts 2e being secured to the bottom ofthe hopper I, and the" inside struts 2d connected to the rear portion of the hopper, the struts extending rearwardly and downwardly from the hopper as shown in`Fig. 1 45 permitting use of rear wheels of minimum diameter. 'In order'to brace the 'pairs of struts 2d, 2e,

a running board?, (Fig. l2) lis'mounted between the pairs 'of struts and bracketed thereto I"by brackets 3a, '3b. 50

The fore-carriage Vis 'substantially identical with that disclosed in myPatent No. 1,901,298, above mentioned, vand hence needs vno vparticular description herein. .Brieflyit consistsiof a tubular castingy 4 on the centerline ofthe hopper 55 and rigidly connected thereto by struts 4a, 4b (Fig. 2) extending from the front of the hopper. Swiveled upon the fore-carriage casting 4 is a steering casting 5, bifurcated at its lower end (Fig. 2), the bifurcations 5a carrying the front wheels 6 which are toed in at their bottoms, as in Fig. 2, so that their peripheries are closely adjacent at the ground level. A bracket 5b on steering casting 5 extends beyond and in front of the front wheels 6, and is adapted to be connected with a suitable tractor hitch, or a tongue casting for a horse hitch.

Casting 4 has an enlarged hollow head 4c on its upper end. In the head 4c is a change speed gear 1, mounted c-n a vertically disposed shaft 1a journaled in the casting 4. Shaft 1a. carries a bevel gear 'Ib on its lower end meshing with a bevel gear 6b on the hub of one of the ground wheels 6 (Fig. 2) whereby the ground wheel will rotate the change speed gear 1.

Change speed gear 1 carries annular rows of teeth for effecting various ratios of speed for feed shaft 9, by engaging any row of teeth on the gear 1 va sliding pinion 8a which is held in mesh with any of the rows of teeth on gear 1 by engaging its flange 8c with the related notch 4e in the bottom of the hinged lid 4f of head 4c, whereby when the lid 4f is closed pinion 8a is locked axially of shaft 8.

Gear 'I rotates sliding pinion 8a (Fig. 1) splined on a shaft 8, one end of which is journaled in head 4c, the other end being journaled in a bearing (Fig. 1) mounted on the bottom of hopper I; and a bevel gear 8b on shaft 8 drives bevel gear 9a on the distributor operating shaft 9 journaled below the hopper.

In order to uncouple the drive so as to avoid breakage of the parts in event foreign substances should become clogged in any of the distributors, or the direction of the machine is reversed, shaft 8 is made in two sections, and opposed ratchet faced clutch members I ll and I Ila are mounted on the adjacent ends of the sections, one member Illa being slidably splined on its section and normally held in engagement with the other member I0 by a spring IIlb around the shaft interposed between member Illa and a collar Id xed on its section,

'the spring being sufliciently strong to normally cause both shaft sectionsto rotate as a unit while permitting the teeth of the ratchets to overrun. The end of the shaft section carrying the member Illa is supported in bearing 8x mounted between the struts 4a.

The distributors I I are preferably identical with those disclosed in my copending applications Serial No. 591.409, filed February 6, 1932, now Patent No. 1,901,300, and Serial No. 591.727, filed February 8, 1932, now Patent No. 1.901.301, and

\ hence need no particular description herein, the

distrbutors II being secured to the bottom of the hopper I in the manner shown in my aforesaid Patent No. 1,901,298. and feeding grain, or grain and granular or pellet fertilizer, through tubes I2 to the rear of the coulter disks, the distributor operating shaft 9 rotating all the distributors in unison. The grain, and grain and fertilizer distributors, are hereinafter more fully described.

The spaced furrow openers (Figs. 1 and 2) preferably comprise a pair of mold boards I 5 disposed at opposite sides of a rolling coulter disk I5a of the type shown in my copending application, Serial No. 428,892, iiled February 17, 1930 (Patent No. 1,873,128) and therefore needs no particular description herein. Each furrow opener is preferably carried by an A-frame I6 pivotally mounted upon a draft rail I'I as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the furrow opener may be raised or lowered as hereinafter described. Draft rail II is supported by means of spaced pairs of braces IIa, I'Ib extending from the front portion of hopper l.

Each frame I6 is provided with a pressure rod I8 (Fig. 1) pivotally connected to an arm I9 on a shaft 29 which is rotatably mounted in brackets 2l extending from the rear of hopper I, shaft 20 having a lever 2| and ratchet mechanism 22 whereby the handle 2| may be set at any angularity desired. The pressure rods I8 preferably pass through bores in the outer ends of the arms I9, and have heads on their upper ends to prevent the arms I9 from becoming disengaged from the rods. Each arm I9 is adapted to slidably engage its rod I8 and a spring 23 is interposed between the arm I9 and a pin I8a on the pressure rod I8 whereby the tension of the spring 23 may be changed. By the above construction, when arms I9 are depressed, rods I8 will be yieldably depresed to hold the furrow openers I5 down to their work to open a furrow in front of the feed tubes I2. When however arms I9 are raised (as in full lines Fig. 1), arms I9 will engage the heads on the upper ends of rods I8 and raise the furrow openers I5 into inoperative position above the ground level. The rear wheels are placed directly in rear of the end furrow openers, and follow in the furrow on firm soil, and act as press wheels.

Figs. l and 2 illustrate a straight rank machine, but the hopper can, if desired, be disposed at an angle of from 20 to 25 degrees as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, resulting in an overlap of each furrow opener, less draft, prevention of clogging and pulverizimg the soil. Such overlap is illustrated in Fig. 5 which shows four units, as per Figs. 3 and 4, arranged side by side and angularly disposed with respect to the direction of pull. 'Ihe overlap of the furrow openers (Fig. 5) allows them to pass over or cut through trash and surface litter without clogging or shouldering. This prevents pulverizing the soil for if they were in a straight rank, the soil thrown by one furrow opener clashes with the soil thrown by the one next to it, breaking same into fine particles easily shifted by high winds. When overlapped, this action does not take place and the soil is left in a lumpy state, preventing shifting by high winds. When two or more seeding machines are hitched together as in Fig. 5 the construction simplifies a. hitch for a gang drill hook-up. It also prevents the ends of the individual units from interfering when making turns.

The construction of the machine shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hopper 26 forming the supporting frame, and the rear wheels 2 and fore-carriage 4 being bracketed directly to the hopper 2B, but the hopper is disposed at an angle of 20-25 degrees to the direction of pull, and the furrow openers and rear wheels and fore-carriage are likewise angularly disposed. Instead however of providing adjustments for raising and lowering the Coulter hoes I5 as in Figs. 1 and 2 the counter disks I5 are bracketed directly to the hopper by bracket plates 21 which carry the journals for the Coulter disk wheels I5a.

The rear wheels 2 (Figs. 3 and 4) are journaled in uprights 3l guided in bearings 32, 33, and uprights 3| may be raised up or down with respect to the bearings by adjustment of screw shafts 34 iol grain distributors I I hopper, having openings' wardly' as at 31h (Fig. 7)

idist-r'ibutors.

provided with cranks 34a to tilt themachineand thus bring-fthe furrow openers I5 into or out of Contact With-the ground.

The'ho'pper 26 of themachine shown Figs. 3 and-4 also differs inconstruction from hopper I ofFigsi'l and2, the-hopper 2S being shown in detail 1in Figs. 6-13. A falsebottom 35 (Fig. 6) ex-` tends thel entire length of hopperv 25" and is provided with the openings 35V (one for each distributor I' Il) False bottom 35 isremovable with frame 3T? (Figi 6) and thebottom 35' and frame as a unit` is'ladapte'd' to be inserted through openings the ends-'Tofr the hopper 26. Frame 31 is secured to false bottom by bolts 31C as shown in Fig. 6. Portions 26a at both ends of hopper 26 below the fal'sbottom 35are open, vthe ends 311,/ of frames 3l closing the openings 26a when the frames are inserted in place. The distributors II are removablev inthe frames 3T whereby the machine may be readily' 'converted from a grain drill to a combined 4grain and fertilizer drill' as hereinafter described, by substitution of distributors.

If the machine is to be used only as a grain drill the `hopper shown in Figs. 6, 7, 10, 1l is used. The are placed in openings in the frames 31 with the'flangesl of the distributors resting upon the tops ofthe frame, and the false bottom 135 seoured'over the flanges and to the frame, and the frame inserted-in the ends 26a Lof the hopper and the frames'held elevated until the distributors are directly over the openings 26x in the bottom of the hopper into which thel distributors drop. Each frame 3l (Fig. 6) consists of a plate,y of substantially half the length of the 31a/therein into which the distributors are inserted from above, the openings 31a snuglyv receiving the distributors, and being spaced to correspond With the spacing of openings 36: The sides of plate 3l are flanged downto rest upon the bottom of hopper 26' and hold the distributors I I properly spaced and to support the-false bottom which is of widthto engage the sides of the hopper when the flangesr31b are seated on the bottom of the hopper. Frames 31 carryingl the distributors are inserted into each end of the hopper through the openings 26a; and hence the frames 3l may be withdrawn at any time for cleaning, repairing, or substitution of grain distributors for grain and fertilizer The distributor drive shaft 9 passes through the frames `3lI the distributor wheels as indicatedfin- Figs; 6 and '7.

The'idistributors for grain only are preferably such as shown in my aforesaid Patent No. 1,901,309 and needs no particular description herein. Briefly each grain distributor II comprises a casting having a feed Wheel I Io (Fig. 7) journaled therein through which wheel the drive shaft 9 extends. Wheel IIc is double acting and is provided with teeth on each side adjacent the periphery to simultaneously feed seeds on both sides of the wheel as the same rotates, the seeds dropping down into the throats Hd (Fig. 4) of distributing tubes I2. The distributors Il have means to regulate the amount of seed distributed by opening and closing adjustable throats IId (Fig. 7) As shown, each throat I Id is hinged to the side of the casting and is adapted to be swung towards or away from the web of wheel I Io adjacent its periphery to regulate the amount of seed delivered at the discharge point.

In order to adjust the throat I Ic I provide shafts Hg (Fig. 9) carrying the throats, whereby as the shafts are rotated the throats will be pivoted. The shafts IIg of the several distribuand through the hubs of tor throats are operated simultaneously byaa shaft 38 journaled in frame 3T (Fig. 8) and'gearedi to theshafts IIg (Fig, 7) whereby rotationof shaftwill simultaneously adjustall the--throats\- Iict. Preferably each shaft iextends"throughllI the end plate Bly of frame 3l to the outsidefof" the hopper, as is provided with 'a handlel'38,I (Fig. 9) for rotating the same.

If the machine is to be used for drilling both grain and fertilizer the fra-mest?l arev removed fro-inthe hopper 2d and the'ccn'iioinedA grainfand fertilizer distributors such as shown in my aforee' said Patent No. 1,901,301 are inserted. This type of distributor requires a longitudinally-'dividedil hopper for holding grain on one side, and feritilizer on the other side, ofr the hopper.v i 'I-'lie-` division plate 26e is indicated in Figs. 9', 12- and-i 13 and is removably attached to false bottom-35l by clips or the like, the upperl endof the=parti= tion plate being received in a groove 25W-cast? on the top of the hopper. The distributors-f of this type have adjustable throatssimilar to throats iid of Flg. 7, but each. distributor has' four such throats, two for grain andftwoffor fertilizer. Hence in Fig. 8 two shafts 38,39, are shown to respectively adjust the throats of the: fertilizer and grain distributors, and similarly the shafts 35S-39 extend through the endpl'ates` 311( of the frames 3l and are provided with'handles 38a, 39a, and dials 38h- 3th (Fig. 9)' whereby all the throats of each frame 3lT may be' adjusted simultaneously.

I do not limit my invention to the exact' forms shown inthe drawings `for obviously changesl may be made therein within the scope of the claims.4

I claim:-

1. In a seeding machine, a hopper, seed distributors, a removable false bottom with'infsaid` hopper having openings'therein registeringwitlr the seedfdistributors, frames removable with the-` false bottom and carrying the distributorsl and maintaining same in position against their openings."

2. In a machine as set forth in clairn'l, said: frames comprising plates having portions seat-L ing upon the bottom of the hopper; and means for removably securing the frames in position.

in a machine as set forth in claim l, a driveshaft for operating the distributors extending through the frames.

4.`In a machine as set forth in claim 1, said* distributors havingk adjustable throats in their outlets; and means carried by theframes'for" adjusting the throats.

5. In a seeding machine, a hopper, seed distributors, a removable false bottom Within said hopper having openings therein registering with the seed distributors, the ends of the hopper below the false bottom being open; frames removable with the false bottom and carrying the distributors, and maintaining the latter in position against their openings, the ends of the frames closing the open ends of the hopper.

6. In a machine as set forth in claim 5, said frames comprising plates having openings therein into which the distributors are placed, and having portions seating upon the bottom of the hopper; and means for removably securing the frames in position.

7. In a machine as set forth in claim 5, a drive shaft for operating the distributors extending through the frames.

8. In a machine as set forth in claim 5, said distributors having adjustable throats in their outlets; and means carried by the frames for adjusting the throats.

9. In a machine as set forth in claim 5, said distributors having adjustable throats in their outlets; means carried by the frames for simultaneously adjusting the throats; and means at the ends oi the frames for operating the throat adjusting means.

10. In a seeding machine, a hopper, seed distributors, a removable false bottom Within said hopper having openings therein registering with the seed distributors, frames removable with the false bottom and carrying the distributors and maintaining the latter in position against their openings; said distributors having adjustable throats in their outlets; shafts journaled in the frames; means on the shafts for operating the throats; and manual means on the shafts accessible on the exterior of the hopper for rotating the shafts.

11. In a machine as set forth in claim 10, said frames comprising plates having openings therein receiving -the distributors, and having flanges seating upon the bottom of the hopper; and means for removably securing the frames in position.

12. In a seeding machine, a. hopper, a removable false bottom within said hopper having openings therein, the ends of the hopper below the false bottom being open; frames in the hopper below and removable with the false bottom, the ends of the frames closing the open ends of the hopper; and seed distributors carried by the frames registering with the openings in the false bottom.

13. In a seeding machine, a hopper, a removable false bottom within said hopper having openings therein, the ends of the hopper below the false bottom being open; frames in the hopper Abelow and removable with the false bottom, seed distributors carried by the frames and registering with the openings in the false bottom, said frames maintaining the distributors in place against their openings, and the ends of the frames closing the open ends of the hopper.

14. In a seeding machine, a hopper, a removable false bottom within said hopper having openings therein, the ends of the hopper below the false bottom being open; frames removable with and below the false bottom in the hopper; seed distributors carried by the frames registering with the openings in the false bottom, said distributors having adjustable throats in their outlets; means carried by the frames for adjusting the throats, and means at the ends of the frames for operating the throat adjusting means.

15. In a seeding machine, a hopper, a removable false bottom within said hopper having openings therein, the ends of the hopper below ,5 the false bottom being open; frames in the hopper below and removable with the false bottom, seed distributors carried by the frames, said frames maintaining the distributors in place against the openings, and the ends of the frames 10 closing the open ends of the hopper; a drive shaft for the distributors extending through the frames; said distributors having adjustable throats in their outlets; means carried by the frames for simultaneously adjusting the throats, 15k and means at the ends of the frames for operating the throat adjusting means.

16. In a seeding machine, seed distributors, a hopper having openings in its bottom for the seed distributors; a removable false bottom for the 20 hopper having openings therein registering witn the openings in the hopper; and means for securing the seed distributors to the false bottom whereby the distributors are removable with the false bottom. 25

17. In a seeding machine as set forth in claim 16, the hopper having an open end, and means carried by the false bottom for closing the open end when the false bottom is placed in the hopper.

18. In a seeding machine as set forth in claim 30 16, said means comprising a frame carrying the distributors and secured to the false bottom and removable therewith.

19. In a seeding machine as set forth in claim 16, said means comprising a frame carrying the 35 distributors and secured to the false bottom and removable therewith, and a drive shaft for operating the distributors carried by the frame.

20. In a seeding machine as set forth in claim 16, said means comprising a frame carrying the 40 distributors and secured to the false bottom and removable therewith, said distributors having adjustable throats in their outlets; and means carried by the frame for adjusting the throats.

2l. In a seeding machine as set forth in claim 45 16, said means comprising a frame carrying the distributors and secured to the false bottom and removable therewith, and a drive shaft for operating the distributors carried by the frame, said distributors having adjustable throats in their outlets; and means carried by the frame for adjusting the throats.

BEN P. JOHNSON. 

